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Heroes & Slides
HERO HIGHLIGHTS
We wanted to highlight some US Military & Veteran heroes that are having an impact transforming the ethos of ministries to the Armed Forces. We have had the chance interact with them and/or their team and we are presently trying to assist them in fulfilling their mission. Click on the photos to learn more about these heroes.
SLIDES FROM OUR JOURNEY
BLOGS
There are a number of blogs that we wanted to make available for you to check out. Click on the logos below and enter into blogs that are informative, insightful, and inspiring!
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SPOTLIGHT EVENTS
Welcome Home Troops mission is to provide platform events to help aid our military in the reintegration process. Providing resources and opportunities for communities to connect, support and care for those who have sacrificed to protect us and our nation. CLICK HERE WELCOME HOME TROOPSTO LEARN MORE
July 10th. Thunder Valley Raceway Park
10500 S. 48th Street
Noble, Oklahoma, 73068
REIGNITION EVENTS
TM
Coming Soon . . .
Golf Events in Florida, California, & New Jersey
CHALLENGE COINS
A challenge coin is a small coin or medallion (usually military), bearing an organization's insignia or emblem and is carried by the organizations members. They are given to prove membership when challenged and to enhance morale. The tradition probably began amongst Special Forces units during the Vietnam War. The tradition spread through the Airborne community, and by the early 1980s into the 75th Infantry "Rangers." As officers were reassigned as their careers progressed, they carried with them the tradition of awarding a unit coin for acts that were worthy of recognition. Many military and veteran organizations present them as awards for service over and above the call of duty.
National Director's 2008 Coin
National Director's 2009 Coin
Click Here To See More Challenge Coins Presented to Director
More Challenge Coins Presented to National Director
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ROBERT F. DEES
Major General (Retired), U.S. Army
Executive Director, Military Ministry
A Division of Campus Crusade for Christ International
Major General (Retired) Bob Dees was born in Amarillo, Texas on 2 February 1950. Upon graduation from the US Military Academy in 1972, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Infantry and was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree. He also holds a Master of Science degree in operations research and systems analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the US Army Command and General Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He was also a Research Fellow at the Royal College of Defence Studies in London and is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Virginia.
General Dees has served in a wide variety of command and staff positions culminating in his last two assignments as Commander, Second Infantry Division, United States Forces Korea; and as Deputy Commanding General, V (US/GE) Corps in Europe, concurrently serving as Commander, US-Israeli Combined Task Force for Missile Defense. He has commanded airborne, air assault, and mechanized infantry forces from the platoon through division.
General Dees awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal(2), Legion of Merit (2), Meritorious Service Medal (6), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Republic of Korea Chonsu Order of National Security. General Dees has also been awarded the Ranger Tab, Senior Parachutist and Air Assault Badges, the Expert Infantrymans Badge, the Army Staff Identification Badge, and the Joint Staff Identification Badge.
General Dees is married to the former Kathleen Robinson of Houston, Texas. They have two married children and four grandchildren. Son Rob (with wife Kristy and three children) is an Army Major currently teaching at West Point. Daughter Ali (with husband Paul and son Mitch) lives in Rochester, NY.
Officially retiring from the Army on 1 January 2003, Bob worked as Executive Director, Defense Strategies, Microsoft Corporation for two years. In that role, he formulated the strategy for Microsofts US Defense sector and conducted executive engagement with leadership of Microsofts major defense partners. In addition, Bob served as Microsoft lead for Reconstruction of Iraq, coordinating efforts with US Government, foreign governments, and private sector partners in the US and abroad.
In April 2005, Bob assumed duties as Executive Director, Campus Crusade for Christ Military Ministry.
While in the military, General and Mrs. Dees served as volunteer leaders with Officers Christian Fellowship (OCF) and the Association of Christian Conferences and Teaching Services (ACCTS). He was recipient of the 2003 Centurion Award from the National Association of Evangelicals for long term support to chaplains while in command positions.
Rear Admiral (Retired) Alan T. Baker
Deputy Chief of Chaplains
Chaplain of the Marine Corps
Rear Admiral Alan T. Baker, CHC, USN, is Deputy Chief of Navy Chaplains and 16th Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps. Baker is the first graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy or former Surface Warfare Officer to serve as a Chaplain Corps Flag Officer.
A native of Santa Ana, Calif., Baker graduated with merit from the Naval Academy in 1978 and reported to USS Brooke (FFG 1) for his first sea tour. He returned to the Naval Academy in 1981 as an instructor in the Department of Professional Development. Answering the call to ministry in 1984, Baker transferred to the Naval Reserve while attending seminary. Graduating from Fuller Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree in 1987, Baker was ordained by the Reformed Church in America and recalled to active duty as a Navy chaplain.
His first Chaplain Corps assignment was as a Ship's Chaplain of USS Richmond K. Turner (CG 20) in which he deployed to the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Earnest Will escorts of reflagged Kuwaiti tankers. Baker reported for service with the United States Marines in 1990. During combat operations to liberate Kuwait in the first Gulf War, he provided ministry in the field to the Marines and supporting units of Marine Aircraft Group-11. In 1992, Baker began three years on staff at the Naval Chaplains School as primary instructor and administrator for the Chaplain Basic Course providing initial training to newly commissioned Navy Chaplains. Following a tour as chaplain with the United States Coast Guard in New York (1995 to 1998), Baker was ordered to the Staff of the Chief of Navy Chaplains in Washington, D.C., where he served as Branch Head of Chaplain Corps Professional Development. In 2001 he reported as Command Chaplain of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) with additional duties as Carrier Strike Group Chaplain in Operation Enduring Freedom.
In 2003, Baker assumed duties as Senior Chaplain Corps detailer at the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Millington, Tenn., where he was responsible for world-wide assignments of chaplains throughout the Sea Services. In 2004, thirty years after arriving as a Plebe, Baker returned to the United States Naval Academy as Command Chaplain, where he was responsible for religious support to the 4,300-member Brigade of Midshipmen as well as management of the Academy's historic chapels. Baker holds a Doctorate from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts and is a Master Training Specialist as designated by the Navy Chief of Education and Training (NETC). He has an additional professional subspecialty in Education and Training Management.
Bakers personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, four Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medals (one with Combat V device), two Coast Guard Commendation Medals, and two Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medals.
Major General Douglas L. Carver
Chaplain Corps
Army Chief of Chaplains
Chaplain (Major General) Douglas L. Carver is the current United States Army Chief of Chaplains. He replaced Chaplain (Major General) David Hicks in 2007. Formerly Deputy Chief, Carver has been the Armys top chaplain since July 2007. Officers normally serve in the post for four years. He is the first Southern Baptist chaplain to be promoted to the Chief of Chaplains office for active duty in more than 50 years. Nearly 2,500 Southern Baptist-endorsed chaplains serve in the military, healthcare, corporate and law enforcement fields.
Carver, who holds theology degrees from the University of Tennessee and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, was senior chaplain for V Corps and Combined Joint Task Force 7 in Germany and Iraq from 2002 through 2004.
Chaplain Carver was director of training at the Chaplain Center and School, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Carver was originally commissioned in the field artillery. He served with the 4th Infantry Division. He left active duty, but served with the Army Reserve for five additional years. Upon returning to active duty in 1984, he attended the Chaplain Corps officer basic course and began his career as a chaplain.
Among his awards and decorations are the Legion of Merit with an oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge and Ranger Tab.
BRIGADIER GENERAL
DAVID H. CYR
Air Force Deputy Chief of Chaplains
Chaplain (Brig. Gen.) David H. Cyr is the Air Force Deputy Chief of Chaplains, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. He assists the Chief of Chaplains in directing and maintaining a trained, equipped and professional chaplain service. This includes more than 2,200 chaplains and chaplain assistants from the active and Air Reserve components which provide opportunities for the free exercise of religion to all Air Force people and their families worldwide. As a member of the Armed Forces Chaplain Board, he and other members advise the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff on religious, ethical and quality of life concerns.
Chaplain Cyr was commissioned as a chaplain in February 1979. He started his career at Vance AFB, Okla., as a Protestant chaplain. His assignments include senior Protestant chaplain, wing chaplain and Chaplain School instructor. He has also served as Joint Staff chaplain at the Pentagon, and Command Chaplain for U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Combat Command. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Commandant, USAF Chaplain Service Institute, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
EDUCATION
1973 Bachelor of Science degree in biblical studies, Northeast Bible College, Green Lane, Pa.
1976 Master of Divinity degree, Bangor Theological Seminary, Maine
1982 Master of Behavioral Science degree, Northwest Oklahoma State University
1996 Master of Science degree in national security strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Rear Admiral Robert F. Burt
Chief of Navy Chaplains
A native of Springfield, Ore., Rear Admiral Robert Burt enlisted in the Navy in May of 1970 and completed boot camp at Recruit Training Command, Orlando, Fla. in July. His enlisted service included three years as a Communications Technician and three and a half years aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) as a Data Processor.
After his honorable discharge in March of 1977, Burt completed his Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies from Eugene Bible College. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Western Evangelical Seminary, Portland, Ore. in May, 1981. An ordained minister of the Open Bible Churches, Burt is endorsed by the National Association of Evangelicals for military chaplaincy.
Burts sea tours include the USS Arkansas (CGN 41) and USS Kansas City (AOR 3), USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and Regimental Chaplain with 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. Burt completed six deployments to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and the North Persian Gulf.
Ashore, Burt served on staffs at Roosevelt Roads Naval Hospital, Puerto Rico; Naval Training Station, San Diego, Calif.; Recruiting Area Eight, Oakland, Calif.; Submarine Base Bangor, Silverdale, Wash.; Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill.; Navy Personnel Command, Millington, Tenn. as the Chaplain Corps Senior Assignment/Placement officer; and Fleet Chaplain for Commander, Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Upon selection to flag, Burt served as the Deputy Chief of Navy Chaplains/Chaplain of the Marine Corps from September 2003 to June 2006.
Burt became the 24th Chief of Navy Chaplains on June 23, 2006.
Burts personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy Commendation Medal (two awards) and various service and campaign awards.
CHAPLAIN (MAJOR GENERAL)
CECIL R. RICHARDSON
Air Force Chief of Chaplains
Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Cecil R. Richardson is Chief of Chaplains, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. As a member of the special staff of the Chief of Staff, he advises on all matters pertaining to the religious and moral welfare of Air Force personnel. He is responsible for establishing an effective total chaplain program to meet the religious needs of all members of the Air Force. As Chief of Chaplains, he is the senior pastor for more than 800,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas. He leads an Air Force Chaplain Service of approximately 2,200 chaplains and chaplain assistants from the active and Air Reserve components. As a member of the Armed Forces Chaplains Board, he and other members advise the Secretary of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff on religious, ethical and quality-of-life concerns.
Chaplain Richardson began his career as an enlisted intercept operator and Russian interpreter. He has served two assignments as a senior Protestant chaplain and two as a wing chaplain. He has also served as the chaplain assignments officer and a major command division chief. His senior leadership positions include Executive Director, Armed Forces Chaplain Board; Command Chaplain for U.S. Central Command and Air Combat Command; and Director, USAF Chaplain Service Institute. Prior to his present position, he served as the Deputy Chief of Air Force Chaplains.
Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Air Force Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal with two bronze stars
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Short with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Long
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with silver oak leaf cluster
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
More Challenge Coins Presented to National Director {2}
Click Here for More Coins {Misc.}
More Challenge Coins Presented to National Director {3}
Rear Admiral Mark L. Tidd
Rear Admiral Mark L. Tidd comes from a career Navy family, and is a graduate of Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. He received his Masters of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary and a postgraduate Masters of Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary. He is a recent graduate of the National War College in Washington D.C. with a Masters of Science in National Security Strategy and a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the Armed Forces Staff College.
Tidds Navy tours include Naval Air Station Moffett Field, Calif. with Patrol Wing 10 and the USS Reeves (CG 24). During his time on board, Reeves visited Qingdao, China, as part of the first port visit by U.S. warships to that country in 39 years. He went on to serve as deputy command chaplain on the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71).
Marine Corps tours include 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and 2nd Marine Division staff, deploying to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Desert Storm. He served at Marine Corps Combat Development Command as the chaplain for the Marine Corps Brig and the Base Security Battalion and returned to 2nd Marine Division as the division chaplain.
He has served in leadership positions on the chief of chaplains staff as the branch head for Professional Development and Religious Programs, and as the Advanced Training officer at Navy Chaplain School. Tidd was assigned as the force chaplain for U.S., Naval Forces Central Command and the fleet chaplain for U.S. 5th Fleet, headquartered in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Most recently, he was command chaplain for the U.S. European Command.
Tidds military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with gold star, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, and Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars.
Tidd assumed his current duties as the 17th chaplain of the United States Marine Corps and deputy chief of Navy Chaplains in August 2009.
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This Month's SPOTLIGHT
We are pleased to highlight events, resources, initiatives, programs, and ministries that are contrubuting to the Re-Ignition Path . . . most of our featured 'SPOTLIGHTS we have had direct or direct partnership and/or relationship with . . . enjoy!
Armed Services Ministry working in a unique partnership with Gallup Faith Practice, developed Engage Your Strengths.™ This resource blends Gallups StrengthsFinder™ assessment and coaching with biblical foundations and extended Scripture engagement. As men and women refine and practice their strengths they will be equipped to consistently achieve excellence and maximize their God-given talents.
The online assessment is known as the Clifton StrengthsFinder™ instrument. It measures the presence of talents in 34 categories called themes.
10,000 US Military Chaplains and Chaplain Assistants [Navy = Religious Program Specialist] will receive this incredible tool over the next 18 months. There is an expectation and anticipation that the ethos and culture of the Corps will be transformed while becoming a catalyst to impact the military & nation!
Click here or on the ASM logo to learn more
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